Decay Music
Encyclopedia
Decay Music is the 1976 debut album by Michael Nyman
, released on Brian Eno
's Obscure Records
music label. The two works on the album, 1-100 (composed 1 December 1975) and Bell Set No. 1 (1974) are both built around the musical concept of decay. Both of these experiment with percussive, long decay musical forms. 1-100 is played at half the speed it was recorded. It was written for Peter Greenaway
's film of the same title, but rejected because it was too long. It was inspired by Frederic Rzewski
's Les Moutons de Panurge, which Nyman often played with the Scratch Orchestra
.
The album was first issued on compact disc
on March 29, 2004, by EMI
/Virgin
. The original full-speed recording of 1-100 is included as a bonus track.
Michael Nyman
Michael Laurence Nyman, CBE is an English composer of minimalist music, pianist, librettist and musicologist, known for the many film scores he wrote during his lengthy collaboration with the filmmaker Peter Greenaway, and his multi-platinum soundtrack album to Jane Campion's The Piano...
, released on Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
's Obscure Records
Obscure Records
Obscure Records was a U.K. record label which existed from 1975 to 1978. It was created and run by Brian Eno, who also produced the albums . Ten albums were issued in the series...
music label. The two works on the album, 1-100 (composed 1 December 1975) and Bell Set No. 1 (1974) are both built around the musical concept of decay. Both of these experiment with percussive, long decay musical forms. 1-100 is played at half the speed it was recorded. It was written for Peter Greenaway
Peter Greenaway
Peter Greenaway, CBE is a British film director. His films are noted for the distinct influence of Renaissance and Baroque painting, and Flemish painting in particular...
's film of the same title, but rejected because it was too long. It was inspired by Frederic Rzewski
Frederic Rzewski
Frederic Anthony Rzewski is an American composer and virtuoso pianist.- Biography :Rzewski began playing piano at age 5. He attended Phillips Academy, Harvard and Princeton, where his teachers included Randall Thompson, Roger Sessions, Walter Piston and Milton Babbitt...
's Les Moutons de Panurge, which Nyman often played with the Scratch Orchestra
Scratch Orchestra
The Scratch Orchestra was an experimental musical ensemble founded in the spring of 1969 by Cornelius Cardew, Michael Parsons and Howard Skempton....
.
The album was first issued on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
on March 29, 2004, by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
/Virgin
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. The original full-speed recording of 1-100 is included as a bonus track.
Personnel
- Michael NymanMichael NymanMichael Laurence Nyman, CBE is an English composer of minimalist music, pianist, librettist and musicologist, known for the many film scores he wrote during his lengthy collaboration with the filmmaker Peter Greenaway, and his multi-platinum soundtrack album to Jane Campion's The Piano...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
(tracks 1 and 3), percussion, (track 2) - Nigel Shipway, percussion (track 2)
- Composed by Michael Nyman
- Produced by Brian EnoBrian EnoBrian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
- Published by Chester Music Ltd//Michael Nyman Ltd (1991)
- Art direction by Russell MillsRussell Mills (artist)Russell Mills is a British artist who was born in Ripon, Yorkshire, UK in 1952. He paints, creates multimedia installations, designs stage sets and lighting and has produced record covers and book covers for Brian Eno, the Cocteau Twins,Michael Nyman, David Sylvian, Peter Gabriel, and Nine Inch...
- Image melts by Michael Webster
- Layout and design by the redroom@emi
- Liner notes by Michael Nyman and Brian Eno (2004)
- Digital remaster produced in 2004